If you were photographed by Derek Kreckler in Crown St Mall during the past two months, don't be surprised to see an over-sized portrait of yourself adorning the outside walls of Wollongong City Gallery.As part of the gallery's 30th anniversary celebrations, Austinmer photographer Kreckler won the commission to create 14 new exterior panels for the 1953 building.Last week Lawrence Tan's large metallic bolts work, Adapt/Enforce IV, came down and Kreckler's Facade went up. "The idea was to get a fresh look on the outside of the gallery and to reflect, almost like a mirror, on Wollongong city and the people in and around town," Kreckler said.During October and November, Kreckler prowled the mall with his camera looking for colourfully dressed subjects."People were really friendly and they were quite happy to be involved," Kreckler said. "I wasn't trying to find particular people, it was a matter of finding people who were there at the time." From 60 portraits, Kreckler selected the final 14. Yesterday, eight of those 14 subjects visited the gallery to see their imposing portraits."They think it is great, but they also think it is really weird looking at yourself that big," Kreckler said.

Fresh look for Wollongong City Gallery

Photographer Derek Kreckler, who has created 14 external wall panels for Wollongong City Gallery, with some of his subjects. Picture: KEN ROBERTSON

If you were photographed by Derek Kreckler in Crown St Mall during the past two months, don't be surprised to see an over-sized portrait of yourself adorning the outside walls of Wollongong City Gallery.As part of the gallery's 30th anniversary celebrations, Austinmer photographer Kreckler won the commission to create 14 new exterior panels for the 1953 building.Last week Lawrence Tan's large metallic bolts work, Adapt/Enforce IV, came down and Kreckler's Facade went up. "The idea was to get a fresh look on the outside of the gallery and to reflect, almost like a mirror, on Wollongong city and the people in and around town," Kreckler said.During October and November, Kreckler prowled the mall with his camera looking for colourfully dressed subjects."People were really friendly and they were quite happy to be involved," Kreckler said. "I wasn't trying to find particular people, it was a matter of finding people who were there at the time." From 60 portraits, Kreckler selected the final 14. Yesterday, eight of those 14 subjects visited the gallery to see their imposing portraits."They think it is great, but they also think it is really weird looking at yourself that big," Kreckler said.